Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London

Details

JOHN VARLEY, O.W.S. (LONDON 1778-1842)
Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London
signed and dated 'J.VARLEY. / 1816.' (lower right)
pencil and watercolour, heightened with touches of gum arabic on paper
11 ¾ x 15 ½ in. (29.8 x 39.4 cm.)

Provenance

Nancy Quenelda Radcliffe-Platt (1895-1993).
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 7 April 1998, lot 48, where purchased by the present owner.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Alastair Plumb Senior Specialist, Head of Sale, European Art

aplumb@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3298

Lot Essay

Cheyne Walk was named after the Lord of the Manor of Chelsea, Charles Cheyne (1625-1698). Varley captures the play of the shadows across the ground in his portrayal of this distinguished residential street. The watercolour is based on an earlier version, dated 1811, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, inv.176-1894 (see C.M. Kauffmann, John Varley 1778-1842, London, 1984, p. 129, no. 31, illustrated in colour) and shows Chelsea Old Church with its wooden cupola (which had actually been removed in 1815); through the trees to the left, Battersea Old Bridge is visible.

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